For all the official chatter about the importance of ensuring that our business culture take account of environmental considerations, the preparedness of local business enterprises to abandon – or at least reduce – is by no means readily apparent. This, notwithstanding, the long-established scientifically determined facts about the effects of plastic pollution on humans, animals and plants on account of their release of toxic chemicals that eventually work their way up the food chain are beginning to register with some business enterprises.
Alana Bumbury-Walton may well be part of that still modest clique. She owns and operates Jars Zero Waste Store which offers a range of conventional goods for sale but pays particular attention to its protocols regarding packaging. Here, the environment comes first.
If there is a strong hint of nutrition-friendliness to the products that she sells, much of her focus is on bringing a stronger eco-friendly perspective to the local shopping culture. After you have picked up your routine food and other items – detergents, fabric softener, pasta and an assortment of grains which include (rice, split peas, oats, nutmeg, cinnamon, cashew and peanuts, coffee beans (which can be ground on the premises) and virgin coconut oil from the Jars Zero Waste Store, eco-friendly cotton canvas bags and cotton mesh bags can be bought there to take the groceries home. Alana is hoping that her undisguised environmental advocacy will help expand the local community of eco-friendly Guyanese.
Much of what Jars Zero Friendly offers for sale is imported, the notable exceptions being peanuts and cashew nuts, acquired from Lethem, coconut oil and the Tidy Up range of detergents which are also bought locally.
A University of Guyana Public Management graduate, Alana says that her approaches to various large companies in Guyana in an effort to develop business relationships that would enable more efficient product distribution have not, up until now, been encouraging. That notwithstanding, she remains optimistic about growth. Arising out of several approaches which she has had from small craftspeople she has made a decision to establish a Craft Corner inside the store. Further, on account of what she says has been her success with the marketing of the Tidy Up Refill Laundry Detergent products she is preparing to significantly increase her distributorship of the products. Alana’s strong environmental instincts are reflected in her entrepreneurial outlook. Packaging for her spices, oats, grains, pasta and coconut oils is mostly reusable glass jars that range in price from $180 to $400 each. Free paper bags is the option here, otherwise, customers are encouraged to bring their own chosen containers.
Well into its second month of offering services to its customers (Jars Zero was opened on October 1 this year and according to Alana business has been encouraging, a lot of it originally coming from friends and relatives though growth continues to expand further.
Alana is not new to business. In May 2019 she established her first business enterprise in Plaisance…a Tidy Up Refill Distribution facility at the Plaisance Line Top obliquely opposite the Guinness Bar. She had been pushed in that direction by colleagues at work who have continually demonstrated an enthusiasm for the products.
She had been coaxed into business by her father and though they often locked horns on approaches to entrepreneurship, nonetheless, she says that he has been a great supporter of her pursuits. Her father being an electrical technician by trade did some of her electrical works.
Operating two businesses simultaneously had thrown up considerable challenges. Most of her savings, she says have been poured into the Garnett Street enterprise and while there continue to be good days and less than good ones she is prepared to ‘wait out’ the process.
